Best Medicated Dog Shampoo in 2020

What is the Best Medicated Shampoo for Dogs in 2020?

We love our furry canine friends! When we make them part of our families, we work hard to ensure that they are comfortable and that their well-being is catered for. Catering for a dog’s well-being means ensuring that the dog is well fed, well groomed and its health is given much attention.

Dogs are one of the animals that are especially prone to a variety of skin conditions that arise from risks the likes of bites from fleas that can cause dermatitis and other skin infections. Such conditions affect the comfort of the dog and its lifestyle as well. While there are medications that can be administered to dogs with such situations, there is also the option of using medicated dog shampoos.

Top 5 Medicated Dog Shampoos

① Malaseb Medicated Shampoo for Dogs **TOP PICK**
② Douxo Chlorhexidine PS Dog Shampoo
③ TropiClean Medicated Dog Shampoo
④ VetMD Medicated Shampoo for Dogs
⑤ GNC Pets Anti-Bacterial Dog Shampoo

Like regular medication, medicated dog shampoos are specially formulated to tackle skin conditions experienced by dogs. They feature medicinal ingredients that work on relieving the skin of its conditions. Specific medicated dog shampoos are designed to treat particular conditions.

Such dog skin related conditions include skin inflammation, irritation, itching, drying of the skin and crusty skin as well as hot spots among several others. Medicated shampoos cater for such conditions, and once they are handled, you can cease using the medicated shampoo.

There are several brands of dry shampoos in the market today. Each is unique in its way. However, there are those that do not work as advertised and those that cause more harm than good to our canine friends.

In this article, we look at six of the best-medicated dog shampoo brands in the market:

Best Medicated Dog Shampoo List

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① Malaseb Medicated Shampoo for Dogs and Cats

The active ingredients used on this medicated dog shampoo are gentle on the skin yet harsh on susceptible pathogens. They are designed to kill and eliminate target pathogens in a matter of minutes in vitro.

It is specially formulated for dermatological conditions that are associated with skin infections that are responsive to miconazole nitrate and Chlorhexidine gluconate. In addition to killing pathogens, it cleans and degreases the coat of the dog while eliminating dirt, debris, and excess lipids. It helps to maintain the skin barrier without using dyers or any added fragrances.

This medicated shampoo provides complete coat therapy as well as prolonged contact time.

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② Douxo Chlorhexidine PS Dog and Cat Shampoo

It is packed with Chlorhexidine and climbazole that help to control the bacteria and the fungi population in the skin and the coat of the dog. It is also rich in lipid which helps to restore the skin barrier by moisturizing it and leaving it with a lipo-protidic file deposited, and it also helps regulate associated seborrhea and inflammation.

The phytosphingosine-salicyloyl can modify the pro-ceramide that is rich in anti-seborrheic and anti-inflammatory properties. It also helps to eliminate pruritus and cases of itching. It deposits a long-lasting film that can resist rinsing and protect the coat of the skin from irritation and loss of moisture.

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③ TropiClean Medicated Oatmeal and Tea Tree Dog Shampoo

This medicated dog shampoo is designed to soothe dry and itchy skin and keep the dog’s skin healthy and well nourished. It is made from salicylic and tea tree oil that works to eliminate flaking, dandruff, and scaling of the skin that may be arising as a result of seborrhea.

The presence of oatmeal, papaya, and aloe vera gives the skin a soothing effect and leaves the pup smelling fresh and clean. It is soap-free therefore, it does not interfere with any spot on flea or tick treatments. This means that you can bathe your dog with this product without concerns.

The shampoo works up a rich lather that can be rinsed off quickly, leaving the dog refreshed.

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④ VetMD Medicated Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Fungal Dog Shampoo

This is a veterinarian-recommended shampoo that has been proven to assist in eliminating symptoms associated with bacterial and fungal infections. It is a kin-soothing formula that contains tea tree leaf oil that helps to invigorate the skin and give it a calming lavender field fragrance. The medicated formula contains zero artificial fragrances, chemicals as well as zero parabens that can cause further irritation on the skin.

It is a pet-friendly formula whose PH is balanced enough for sensitive skin. It is also packed with vitamins that help to support healthy hair and coat. It does not interfere with other treatments that are being used on the dog like flea and dog treatments.

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⑤ GNC Pets Anti-Bacterial and anti-fungal medicated dog shampoo, lavender scent

This medicated shampoo is specially formulated for dogs that are above twelve weeks old. It helps to combat bacterial and fungal infections that may be affecting the skin of the dog. It is packed with vitamins that can help to encourage healthy skin and a shiny coat for dogs.

It contains Chlorhexidine Gluconate, which is an antiseptic skin cleanser that works to fight the harmful bacteria that is present in the skin. It is rich in ketoconazole, an antifungal medication that is used in the prevention and reduction of itching that is associated with fungal infections. This product is made from high-quality ingredients that are perfect for the well-being of our canine buddies.

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⑥ Vetoquinol Vet Solutions Universal Medicated Shampoo for Dogs and Cats

This medicated shampoo is specially formulated to provide antibacterial, antifungal, and Keratolytic activity. Keratolytic activity means that this product has got antiseptic elements. It is useful in the fight against bacteria and fungus that may result in infections.

Additionally, this medicated dog shampoo can help in the fight against odors. It has a deep cleansing effect on the skin of the dog and helps to remove scales and crust from the skin of the pet. This product is also gentle enough to be used on the regular, and upon use, it does not affect the effectiveness of other topical treatments.

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Understanding what a medicated dog shampoo is

It is a hair care product meant for dogs that contain substances that have been explicitly designed to treat and or manage particular medical conditions of the skin and the coat of dogs. Like other regular shampoos, a medicated dog shampoo can be applied on the skin of our canine companions, massaged adequately to allow for even distribution, left on for a while for it to soak thoroughly into the skin and then washed off.

Like for other topical medications, when it comes to using medicated dog shampoos, there are factors that you need to consider. Such factors include that you are only expected to use the medicated shampoo if your dog suffers from the condition that the shampoo is meant to treat. Once the condition clears up, you are expected to cease using the medicated shampoo as it is not meant to be used on healthy pets.

Using a medicated dog shampoo on a dog that is not ill may result in allergic reactions as some of the ingredients used in the manufacture of the medicated dog shampoos may cause allergic reactions of your dog.

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What are the benefits of using medicated shampoos?

You may be wondering why you should opt for a medicated shampoo rather than a regular topical medication. Below are some of the reasons why medicated shampoos are beneficial:

• They are designed to address a particular condition

Regular shampoos are used for grooming and general hair care. Medicated dog shampoos on the other hand are more specific to their functions. For instance, there are those medicated dog shampoos that have been explicitly designed to treat dandruff or seborrhea conditions.

Such cannot be used to treat fungal and bacterial conditions as their purpose is specified. Dogs that have healthy skin are not to be treated with medicated dog shampoos as they contain medicinal chemicals that may result in harm to dog coats that are already healthy.

While this is true, there are those medicated dog shampoos that are designed for a more general purpose like for antiseptic purposes. Such can be used on even healthy dogs.

• It provides immediate relief from specific symptoms and dermatological conditions

As medical dog shampoos are meant to treat certain medical conditions and are applied topically, their effects can be seen almost immediately. Contrary to the effects of regular medications that have to go through the stomach of the dog and get absorbed through the blood before it reaches the targeted site, medicated shampoos are immediate on their purpose. For symptoms like itching and skin redness, medicated dog shampoos provide instant relief.

• They are way safer as compared to systematic medications

Perhaps the main issue that people have with oral medications as well as injectable medications is that they do not only affect the problematic site. This is because they have to go through a process before arriving at the problematic area. In the said process, such medications end up affecting other areas like the cells that may be susceptible to the ingredients used in the manufacture of the medicine.

This is the reason as to why oral medication and injectable have more side effects as compared to medicated dry shampoos that are applied directly on the affected area.

There are several types of medicated dog shampoos, depending on the condition that they are meant to tackle.

Such types include:

• Antiseborrheic medicated dog shampoos

Seborrheic dermatitis is a clinical condition that manifests in the form of dandruff that is usually very stubborn to get rid of. Dandruff eventually results in redness of the skin and the development of scaly patches on the coat of the dog. Seborrheic dermatitis is usually caused y a particular species of fungus the likes of Malassezia that is usually present in the oil that is produced by the skin of dogs naturally.

Antiseborrheic medicated dog shampoos fight against this particular fungus and slow down the production of the said fungus hence relieving and preventing the condition from fearing up again.

• Antibacterial medicated dog shampoos

The coats of dogs and other pets are hosts to numerous species of bacteria that are not pathogenically provided the pet has an immune system that can strike a balance between the flora of the normal bacteria and that of the pathogenic organism. In the event that your dog’s immune system is not strong enough to strike this balance, the chances of the pathogenic bacteria overcoming the normal bacteria are very high. This can result in several dermatological effects on the skin.

Antibacterial medicated dog shampoos are designed to make the pathogenic bacteria ineffective by introducing antibacterial effects or elements.

• Antifungal medicinal dog shampoos

Similar to bacteria, the skin of a dog contains fungi. This fungus many are times become pathogenic if the dog has cases of a compromised immune system. This results in fungal skin infections.

Such infections are effectively treated using imidazole, which is contained in antifungal medical shampoos for dogs. The imidazole substance works by interfering with the ability of the fungus to synthesize ergosterol, one of the most crucial elements in the structure of the dog’s membrane. Lack of this molecule on the cell membrane may result in a weak immune system in the cells of the dog.

• Cleansing and moisturizing medicinal shampoos for dogs

While this specific type of medicinal dog shampoos is not designed to address a particular skin condition in dogs, it is crucial in the deep cleansing of the pores, removing dirt and debris in the pores that may result in clogging of the pores. Keeping the pores clean can be effective in the prevention of certain dermatological conditions the likes of seborrhea.

One of the manifestations of skin problems in canines is dryness of the skin, among others. By moisturizing the skin, this type of medicated dog shampoo can help relieve the symptoms of skin related conditions in dogs. The cleansing properties of medicated shampoos also tend to be safer and gentler on the skin of our furry companions.

• Antipruritic medicated dog shampoos

This type of dog shampoos is designed mainly to help reduce cases and severity of itching in dogs. Antihistamines are the traditional remedy to itching, but antipruritic medicated dog shampoos have a much better effect. They are packed with oatmeal that has magnetic effects that pull the allergens from the surface of the skin of the dog.

Such allergens result in itching due to the stimulation of pro-inflammatory substances. Antipruritic medicated dog shampoos reverse all these effects.

There are a few side effects that may arise from using medicated dog shampoos. Such side effects include

• Irritation of the skin that may be as a result of ingredients that your dog are allergic to
• Skin dryness that may occur owing to the presence of salicylic acid and benzoyl that some dogs may not react to well.
• Shedding that may be due to the high concentration of the shampoo
• Allergic reactions may occur if the pet is hypersensitive to any or all of the ingredients used in the manufacture of the shampoo. Allergic reactions may result in itching, redness of the skin and other skin conditions

Despite these side effects, medicated dog shampoos are generally more effective as compared to regular medications.

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Conclusion & What is the Best Medicated Shampoo for Dogs

Of all the products mentioned in this article, we found that Malaseb Medicated Shampoo for Dogs (CHECK BEST PRICE HERE) is the crème del a crème. This product is affordable, packed with active ingredients that are effective but gentle on the skin, it fights pathogens, fungi and bacteria of all kinds effectively and is formulated to relieve dogs and cats of related skin conditions.  

Additionally, this product cleans and eliminates grease on the skin by gently removing dirt, debris, and excess lipids from the skin of dogs. Above all these, it creates a protective barrier on the skin that is resistant to rinsing hence long lasting. Of all the products reviewed in this article, this product has some of the most impressive features and has close to no side effects on the dog on which it is applied hence the reason why we have ranked it as the best.

Relieve your dog’s skin conditions using Malaseb Medicated Shampoo for dogs and cats!